Wednesday, March 23, 2011

ENERGY CREDIT ON NEW HOUSE

Q. My wife and I built a new home in 2010. We moved in on March 24 so we lived in the house for over a year, if that makes any difference. Can we take the residential energy credit for insulation, windows, & doors on our 2010 tax return?

A. I am afraid that we do not have good news. The nonbusiness energy credit is normally claimed on form 5695 however, the type of costs described are restricted to existing homes only. The credit is designed to help offset the cost of retrofitting an existing home with energy saving devices.

However, you put in any of the following devices these devices qualify for a credit for both new and existing houses:
• Qualified solar electric
• Qualified solar water heating
• Qualified small wind power
• Qualified geothermal heat pump
• Qualified fuel cells

Enjoy your new home.

Larry Kopsa CPA